Edge of Love by E. L. Todd

with a pillow and closed my
eyes. Maybe if I tried really hard, I would disappear.
    Sean walked into the bathroom and
brushed his teeth then washed his face. I normally did these things
before I went to bed, but tonight I abandoned my routine of basic
hygiene. When Sean slipped in between the sheets beside me, I felt
his naked skin next to mine. I knew what his bedroom expectations
were, but I wasn’t in the mood for it.
    “ Scar.” He pulled the
pillow from my hair then ran his fingers through the strands,
making me feel relaxed. I turned on my side and looked away from
him.
    His fingers drifted down my back.
“Don’t be embarrassed, Scar.”
    “ Did you already forget
what happened?”
    He laughed. “It’s not a big
deal.”
    “ Your mom thinks I’m a
whore.”
    “ Well, in her defense, you
are.”
    I elbowed him in the
stomach.
    He laughed again. “Seriously, it isn’t
a big deal, babe. This is going to be a funny story
later.”
    “ I highly doubt
that.”
    “ Hey, it’s going to be
fine. I couldn’t care less if my mom thinks you’re a whore. That’s
how I like my women.”
    “ Is that supposed to
comfort me?” I said sarcastically.
    He sighed. “It changes nothing,
Scarlet.”
    I ran my hands through my hair. “This
is the worst weekend ever. You and I fought, I fought with your
mom, you fought with your brother, and now the neighbors…will it
end?”
    “ At least we’re going home
tomorrow. You’ll see Ryan soon.”
    “ Thank god,” I said. “But
he’s never going to stop making fun of me when he finds out what
happened.”
    Sean smiled. “Yeah. He’s never gonna
let this one go.”
    “ Let’s not say
anything.”
    He shrugged. “Okay.”
    I stared at him suspiciously. “Really?
You’ll keep your mouth shut?”
    “ Yes, but I know you
won’t. You tell him everything, Scar.”
    I sighed. “You’re right.”
    He pressed his chest against my back
then kissed my shoulders and my neck. He pressed his erection
against my backside and I knew he wanted me.
    I pushed him away. “Not
tonight.”
    “ You said that last
night.”
    “ Well, I mean it this
time.”
    “ Yeah okay,” he said
sarcastically.
    “ Sean.”
    He smiled. “Babe?”
    “ I mean it. I feel too
uncomfortable now.”
    “ If they already think
you’re a whore, then does it really matter if we have sex tonight?
They probably expect it anyway.”
    “ Does this make you feel
awkward at all?”
    “ No. I’ve never lied about
my sex life. My parents know that I get around. I’ve never deceived
them or pretended to be something that I’m not. You should take my
father’s advice.”
    “ Which is?”
    “ Who cares what other
people think? You like having sex with me. Who cares? There’s
nothing to be ashamed of.”
    “ It’s different, Sean. We
had sex on a plane. It sounds like I’m needy and horny.”
    He smiled. “Well, that’s true
too.”
    I glared at him.
    “ It’s over and done with.
Just let it go.”
    “ Fine,” I said. “But we
aren’t having sex.”
    “ You can’t say no to
me.”
    “ What do you think I’m
doing?”
    “ How many times have we
been over this? I can seduce you in less than a minute. You were
just talking to me dirty a few hours ago, practically begging me to
fuck you. You don’t stand a chance, Scar.”
    “ Yes, I do.”
    “ I really don’t think so.
I’m not as much of a gentleman as you think I am.”
    “ Sean?”
    “ Babe?”
    “ I don’t want to have sex
tonight. Please don’t seduce me.”
    He was quiet for a moment. “What makes
you think I’ll listen to you?”
    “ Because I know you would
do anything for me. And if I ask you not to do something, you
won’t.”
    “ You told me to stop last
night and I kept going.”
    “ You know the difference,
Sean. I’m being serious.”
    He sighed. “Okay, babe. I really wish
you wouldn’t let this bother you though.”
    I didn’t respond.
    He pulled the blankets over us then
cuddled next to me. His large